Gosford area

• Edogawa Commemorative Garden - Caroline Bay East Gosford.  Features a traditional Japanese Garden with a peaceful feel. The garden is available for ceremonies and photographs and fees apply. Contact: 4324 8099.
• The Fragrant Garden Erina - 25 Portsmouth Road, Erina.  Ceremonies can be held in the newly renovated Gazebo Garden and photos can be taken throughout the gardens. Fee for photos for one hour are $100 and ceremonies start at $250.00. Contact 4365 6155.
• Terrigal Haven - access from Scenic Highway, Terrigal. This scenic area lies inside Terrigal Bay and includes large flat grassy areas adjacent to the ocean as well as The Skillion headland which provides spectacular views of the Pacific and northwards to Terrigal Beach.
• Gosford War Memorial Park - Mann Street, Gosford. Harbourside park with flat grassy areas and views of the harbour. Close to the heart of Gosford city.
• Woy Woy Memorial Park - Brick Wharf Road, Woy Woy.
• Point Frederick Reserve, Pioneer Park - Albany Street, Point Frederick. This point juts out into Brisbane Water near East Gosford and includes the Point Frederick Cemetery.
• Mount Ettalong Lookout - Patonga Drive, Pearl Beach. Access to this lovely spit involves a bit of a walk.
  

All sites must be booked and a fee is payable. For bookings please contact Gosford Council's Recreation Services on 4325 8486.

Wyong area

Norah Head's parks are most popular spots for ceremonies and photographs. These parks are:

• Mazlin Reserve - Bungary Road, Norah Head.
• Jenny Dixon Reserve - Bungary Road, Norah Head.

Other parks available are:

• Bruce Burgis Park - Parkside Avenue, Bateau Bay.
• Crackneck Point Lookout - Hilltop Street, Bateau Bay.
• Chittaway Bay Lions Park - Lakedge Avenue, Chittaway.
• Wallerah Point Reserve - Wallerah Road, Gorokan.
• Foreshore Reserve - Lucinda Avenue, Killarney Vale.
• Saltwater Creek Reserve - The Entrance Road, Long Jetty.
• Long Jetty Foreshore Reserve - Tuggerah Parade, Long Jetty.
• Terilbah Park - Wilfred Barrett Drive, Noraville.
• Picnic Point Reserve - Tuggerah Parade, The Entrance.
• Swadling Park - Bay Road, Toowoon Bay.
• Toukley Gardens - Main Road, Toukley.
  

No bookings are required, but notification to council is requested to avoid doubling up of park usage. No fees are payable. Contact Recreation Planning Dept of Wyong Shire Council 4350 5542 for further information.

Lake Macquarie

• Croudacs Bay Park - Macquarie Drive, Croudacs Bay. A foreshore park contains shelters with fixed tables and chairs.
• Rathmines Park - Dorrington Road, Rathmines. A large open foreshore park with an 'F Jetty' built to replicate the original war F jetty there. Also in the park there is a war memorial and rose garden.
• Speers Point Park - Park Street, Speers Point. A foreshore park on the lake with a jetty. This is the only foreshore park with a large open shelter (up to 60 guests).
• Valentine Park - Valentine Crescent, Valentine.  Small foreshore park on Macquarie Lake. Many older boats are moored in front of the park and trees line the Lake. Many older fig trees also line the road beside the park.
• Wangi Foreshore Reserve - Watkins Road, Wangi. Located on the western shore of the Lake, there is a large foreshore park with its own jetty.

There are no fees for wedding ceremonies or photographs in these park and bookings are not necessary. For bookings call Lake Macquarie Council Assets Management Department on 4921 0299.

• The Warners Bay Rotunda - The Esplanade, Warners Bay.  Located on the Warners Bay foreshore with a bandstand/rotunda supplied with power. Grassy areas and stands of trees.  Bookings can be made through Warners Bay Lions Club on 4947 1202.

Pacific Highway, Heatherbrae, Raymond Terrace. Phone: (02) 4987 1655 

Not far from Port Stephens is the spectacular Hunter Region Botanic Gardens which has a large collection of Australian flora, many of which are rare or endangered, in a natural bushland setting.

These peaceful gardens offer four settings for outdoor wedding ceremonies or wedding photographs.

• Rotunda on the Eucalyptus Lawn - a large, open, flat area with a classic Victorian style Rotunda.
• Bush Chapel - a natural grove surrounded by bush and a water feature. Entry is though a rustic timber arch and there are eight wooden pews for guests. The Chapel can be decorated with red carpet, topiary trees, flowers and ribbon etc.
• Sundial Pond - a lovely lily pond surrounded by lawn, paved areas and sculptures.Lord Howe Island Waterfall - in a peaceful setting, the pond and waterfall display the Garden's native Lord Howe Island plants. For intimate ceremonies.

For a two hour booking the Garden charges - $225 for the Bush Chapel; $250 for the Rotunda and Volunteer Pavillion and $150 for the Camillia Lawn, Sundial Pond, Lord Howe Island Waterfall. An hourly rate of $55 is payable if the booking is for more than two hours and photos only are $50.

Newcastle

All Newcastle's parks, gardens, beaches and lookouts are available for wedding ceremonies and photographs. Bookings are only necessary for the following two locations and an hourly fee applies. Contact Parks & Recreation at Newcastle City Council on 4974 2807 for more information or bookings.

• Custom House Plaza - Watt Street, Newcastle.  Features a harbourside frontage, renovated historic buildings and large paved area.
• King Edward Park - Shortland Esplanade, Newcastle.  Features heritage rotunda, beautiful flower gardens, overlooks Newcastle coastline and rose garden (for photographs only).